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Bowling says goodbye to Tony Reyes

The sport of bowling has lost one of its champions. Former PBA tour champion Tony Reyes was killed when he was struck by a car as he tried to exit his crash damaged vehicle early Friday on Redwood City, California freeway.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Reyes was on northbound Highway 101 in his Chevrolet Trail Blazer about 12:30 a.m. Friday when for an unknown reason he crashed into a sound wall past Marsh Road. After the crash, he stepped out of his vehicle and was hit by a passing Jeep Liberty, inflicting serious injuries.

Reyes, who spent 14 seasons on the PBA tour, had recently cut back on competitive bowling to run Off the Sheet Pro Shop, located inside the San Jose 4th Street Bowl center. During his time on the tour, he would became the 18th player ever to bowl a 300 during a nationally televised match and just the third in history to bowl a 300 en route to a title, the first and only of his career. Reyes finished his career with five PBA Regional Tour titles and earnings in excess of $567,000.

“You always hear about how someone is a great person. In Tony’s case, you almost can’t put it into words,” PBA commissioner Tom Clark.

“No one who ever met Tony Reyes didn’t like Tony Reyes. He was a great bowler, a unique talent with a gift of spreading the virtues of the game, a wonderful friend and the sadness we feel is indescribable. Our thoughts are with the Reyes family.”

Reyes is survived by his wife, Nicole and one-year old daughter, Gianna.